Weir open new GET foundry in China
Company strengthens ESCO global foundry network with new ground-engaging tools facility
WEIR have strengthened their global foundry network with the official opening of their new foundry in Xuzhou, China. Part of Weir’s ESCO global foundry network, the new facility expands capacity for the manufacture of ESCO ground-engaging tools (GET) in line with continued growth opportunities.
The opening ceremony, hosted by Weir’s chief executive officer, Jon Stanton, was attended by a senior leadership team from Xuzhou Hi-Tech Industry Zone and other members of Weir and their ESCO division from China and across the globe.
Occupying a 16.5-acre site in Xuzhou’s High-Tech Industrial Zone, the new foundry features the very latest technology and equipment and incorporates high levels of automation, allowing Weir to optimize capacity and enhance their foundry processes, improve efficiency, and further reduce cost of manufacture, in alignment with the goals of their Performance Excellence transformation programme.
The new foundry represents a US$60 million investment and will replace the company’s existing foundry located close by. Staying in Xuzhou will allow Weir to capitalize on their culture of continuous improvement and sustainability, resulting in consistently high performance in process control, safety, employee engagement, and on-time delivery. The company will retain its highly skilled and loyal workforce – many of whom have been with Weir since they began foundry operations in Xuzhou in 2006.
The new foundry has been designed to produce a wider range of proprietary GET products, including larger-sized components, allowing the manufacture of more product types in a more cost-effective way. It expands Weir’s foundry capacity in China by more than 30% and provides additional flexibility across their global network to best serve our customers around the world.
Jon Stanton, chief executive officer of Weir, said: ‘The opening of our new foundry in Xuzhou is a significant strategic milestone for us. I’d like to congratulate our project team in Xuzhou who have designed and built what we expect to be the safest, most efficient, most sustainable, most advanced foundry within our global network. I’d also like to thank our partners throughout the Xuzhou government for their time and experience to help deliver this important project.
‘This investment demonstrates our commitment to long-term presence and economic contribution in Xuzhou, ensuring Weir drive further efficiency and sustainability in our operations while supporting our continued growth as supplier of premium mining GET technology to customers worldwide.’
